Spring suspension



April 1931-v J. w. LEIGVHTON SPRING SUSPENS ION Filed Nov. 4, 1929 Patented Apr. 1931 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE SPRING SUSPENSION Application. filed November 4, 1929. Serial No. 404,658.

The principal objects of the invention are to devise a construction of bearing for spring suspensions which. will materially re- .duce the wear and enable effective lubrication, thereby greatly enhancing the life of the bearing, and which will considerably reduce the cost of construction.

The principal feature of the invention consists in the novel construction of the spring in suspension, whereby the load is supported by axially engaging members capable of relative oscillating movement arranged between the load supporting member and the spring support.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical mid-sectional view'through the bearing supports of a port.

Figure 2 is a vertical mid-sectional view 29 of a spring bearing on the line 22 of Figure 1. e

,Figure 3 is a perspective detail of one of :the shackle plates shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective detail of the axial bearing members for one end of the shackle.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevational'view of a' spring suspension with a direct connection to a frame.

Figure 6 is an elevational view of a furthur modification and Figure 7 is a sectional view through the spring bdaring shown in Figure 6. I

The common practice in spring sgspension construction hasbeen for many year to pivot in a jaw-shaped frame structure, or between the members of the shackle and the frictional contact has been reduced by the use of antifriction bushings, but even though much improvement has been elfected in the methods of lubricating such bearings, there is a condition of very rapid wear resulting in loose parts and'rapid deterioration.

The present invention proposes the use of a very old type of bearing in an entirely new arrangement and is an adaptation ,of the knife edge bearing used in scale construction.

spring shackle for a vehicle sup-,

the eye end of the spring upon a bolt held In the form of application of the invention illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 4 the invention is shown in relation to a spring shackle. The eye end 1 of the splin 2 has arranged therein an anti-frictionbus ing 3.

Arranged within the bushing and rotatably resting thereonis a block 4 in the form of a sector-shaped prism, the side walls of which preferably form an acute angle.

A sector-shaped bar 6, the convergent faces of which form an obtuse angle is rotatably 00 mounted in the bushing 3 with its axial line resting upon the apex of the block 4. V

The bar 6 extends beyond the side faces of the eye endl of the spring at either end and t the projecting ends are imbedded in recesses 7 formed in the inner faces of the shackle bars 8, said recesses being preferably of a corresponding sector shape to the cross sectional shape of the bar. The bar is thus rigid with the shackle bars.

A bar 9, similar to the sector bar 6 is secured between the upper ends of the shackle and extends through the bearing block 10 which is secured to the vehicle frame or load carrying member, said block being here "shown provided with a bushing 11 and a block 12 in the form of sa'sector-shaped prism similar to the block 4 has its apex resting in the upturned axial groove formed in the upper bar 9.

The shackle bars 8 are here shown secured in position'adjusted against the ends of the sprmg eye 1 and bearing block 10 by a bolt 13. t

It will be readily understood that the bars 35 6 and 9 may extend through the shackles and be provided with bolt ends to hold the shackles securely instead of using the central bolt 13.

The bushings 3 and'll may be dispensed with if desired, as there is very little fric-, tional contact between the outer arc-shaped surface of the central block 4 and the en- .ga ing cylindrical suYface of the spring eye.

t will be seen that in a bearing such as described the vibratory movement of the spring and the swinging movement of the shackle will result in a relative movement aboutfthe axis of the sector-shaped bars 9 and 6 and the engaging Sector shaped blocks 7 4 and lit, the result of t support of the load occur tion of these members, movement. Theprovisi bearing in a V groove at allows the members to use minimum. of friction and W It is noted that the an sides of the hloclrs 1 ans. less than the angular l 'vergent side Walls of the 6 and. L l, consequent y a in the spri eye Wl tude of oscillating mov event of extreme moven spring such as 'l' tudinal faces of the ment W the converg the hi 1g inner eye will slip on the areshapec; the bloch;

The return movcmcn" cause the block: 4; to posing face of c thus he centralised It is important to note in Figures 1 and 2 the h 1y mounted in the shaclfes upon the apes. of the sect and as the block iis or eye the load is suppore surfaces of the spring e the peripheral surface or clearance is free from fr the inner surface of the ilarly at the upper end t mitted from the block to i is secured in the shackles c 6, and there is no frictions the block 9 and the load. This feature is import operation as all normal. rota is borne on the knife e A the blocks a and. 6 and '5 obviates the necessity of chining of the perimeter 0.". and 9.

At the upper end. of the L oscillates in the hearing of the nicer. is rigidly connected with the "ha" he bars 8 and any extreme movement ei h 3 haclrvvard or forward that will cause it to engage the angle faces of the bloclr 1? v i lovement directly upon the end of nicle.

he sector-shaped hloclr F20 corresponds with the hloclc 4; and the her corresponds with the her 6, the ends secured. in the frame 522.

It will he appreciated by time the art that the construction o r or support may he varied co adhering to the princi al feat ventic I.

it will also hearing such a r r11 calf: 2.4 t

m to

ie mainteits period.

the bars 23 9 T7 566 e hloclr and M the spring end a i rm to i thereover are shaped hearing port on said bars.

l Vhat I claim as in 1. A spring suspe S1011 com sing a sector shaped hlocln a hloclz: reel-Q. r mounted on the apex of the aforesaid loloclr. and having a pair of convergent plan ifaces retain ing said hloclrs in a 1 led a1 tact, a spring supp ing or and a load carrying memher other of said blocks.

2;. A spring suspension co orising a sec tor shaped hloclr, a hloclr roc' rgly mounted on the apex of the aforesaid hloclr and having a pair of convergent plane surfaces retaining said blocks in a tilted axial hearing contact, a spring having eye rotalahly encircling said blocks and supporting s -.o, and a load carrying member supported. from one of said blocks.

3. A spring suspension comprising a spring having an eye end, a sector shaped block arranged in said eye end and having a pair of convergent plane surfaces forming a groove, a sector shaped block having its apex held in axial bearing contact with the bottom of the groove in the aforesaid block, and a load carrying member supported by one of said bloclrs, the block supporting the load carrying member having its perimeter clear of contact with the spring eye and rocking on the axial support.

4. A spring. suspension comprising a spring having an eyeend,

v invention is a sector shaped block arranged in said eye end and having a pair of convergent plane surfaces forming a groove, a sector shaped block having its apex held in axial bearing contact with thebottom of the groove in the aforesaid block, and a asoaaau load carrying member rigidly secured to and supported by one of said blocks.

5. A spring suspension comprising a spring havingan eye end, a sectorshaped block arranged in said eye and and having a pair of convergent plane surfaces forming a groove, a sector shaped block having its s apex held inaxial bearing contact with the bottom of the groove in the aforesaid block, and a load carrying member recessed to receive and rigidly hold the ends of one of said blocks. c

6.. A spring suspension comprising a spring having an eye end, a sector shaped block arranged in said eye end and having a pair of convergent plane surfaces forming a groove, a sector shaped block having its apex held in axial bearing contact with the bottom of the groove in the aforesaid block, a pair of shackle plates recessed to non-rotatably hold the ends of one of said pair of blocks at each end of said plates, and a bolt extending between and securing said plates.

7. In a" spring suspension, a spring having a cylindrical eye, and relatively movable bearing members fitted, in said e e and contacting axially thereof, one of sai members being grooved longitudinally, the walls of said groove presenting plane surfaces convergin to a common axis and the other member being formed to present a longitudinal axial ridge contacting with the aforesaid member at its axis, the converging walls of said grooved member co-operating with said second member to retain said members in true axial contact and limit the movement of one relative to the other. 7

JOHN WYCLIFFE LEIGHTON. 

